Who's That Susie?

Anyone recognize the Susie in the photo below? The photo itself once was part of a PhillyCollector header. 

Can't recognize her? I'll tell you then: this Susie is the Los Angeles Luxe doll created for the 2006 Barbie Convention. She has long straight dark auburn hair and brown eyes with painted eyelashes.  She's shown wearing her original fashion, a gunmetal gray bolero jacket and a gunmetal gray halter midi dress. Does anyone recognize her now?

RuPaul Fans Want a 13" Doll?

RuPaul fans can find the Integrity RuPaul doll on sale at My Favorite Doll for $29.99 each. You can buy her in one or all four of her striking outfits from 2005.

Collector Seeking Red-Haired Curly Alysa in Denim Cap and Capris with Fuchsia Top

We - you, my wonderful readers, and I - have a request about any sale of the red-haired Integrity Alysa shown here. A fellow collector would like to buy that doll. Please send the information to drkooch@gmail.com

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

A Vampire Diary: Hair War, Part One

I’m gonna get that b, TJ. Lookit what she’s done to me. Me, the Great [No]Angelus surrounded by a swarm of noisy teenagers. Talk about your basic bad trip. I don’t care how cute she looks when she spazzes out over her mussed hair; this time it’s war, and I mean BLOOD war.

Flashback: Halloween night. TJ had been on me about buying a gray skeleton. Hello? Had she ever seen a real skeleton? Did she think they bleached their bones to glow in the dark? I mean, I went out. I bought that stupid plastic skeleton. Sure it was a cheap one. She was only using it for one night. But, no, I ruined her holiday party. As if the kids would be spooked by that crap. Post Freddy days, TJ. Bad choice on your part.

So, I was kinda peeved at her. Maybe, I felt a little mean. Unappreciated. Hurt. I mean, how many vampires go running to dollar stores to buy stupid plastic skeletons to scare kids who have no fear of plastic bones? Just setting up my defense here.

Few days later, she has fried flounder. No, I didn’t eat any. But ... I poured some of the leftover grease from the fish into her hair pomade. Grease is grease, right? Well, not to Miss TJ. Next day, she goes to straighten her hair with a metal comb. Sets the comb on the stove burner to heat. Then she applies some of the grease to her hair and smooths it out with the hot comb. Her face crinkles in the most adorable way. If I weren’t busy sidling to the door, I’d have taken a photo. She sniffed her fingers, then the pomade. Pomade jar fell out of her hands. She screamed my name – and not in a satisfactory way, I might add – and ran for me. I bolted out of that kitchen quicker than the proverbial bat out of Hell.

(Makes you wonder what’s a bat doing in Hell? Sure they’re ugly suckers – ha, ha, pun intended … whoooo … I crack me up sometimes – but that’s got nothing to with their moral character. Note to self: look up the bat in Hell reference.)

Anyhoo, I have had to avoid Ms. TJ like the proverbial plague. (Understandable that because who wants to cuddle up to a plague? I mean sickness and death, all that rot. Rot? Hooo hooo! If TJ doesn’t get me, I will with my own jokes. Hoisted by me own humor.) No sense of fun, that TJ.

But you are wondering why I am here at the Spendthrift Mall. Why I am being assailed by teenage girl voices and grubby teenage girl hands? (Didn’t girls used to aspire to be ladies? Didn’t they used to wash their hands? One minute they have their hands in their mouths adjusting wads of wet gum – eewwww – and the next, they are grabbing my person. Hey!) But back to the present. How did I land in this fate worse than death – and I did death so I know of what I speak.

Ms TJ the B. Yeah, she tricked me into coming out of hiding. Hiding? Well, maybe just a sabbatical. I mean, I wasn’t really afraid of a slip of a chick like her. On her tippy toes. Not even on solid flat feet. No, I was just chillin’. Giving her time to remember what a hoot I am. So she sends my buddy Barnie after me with this fake truce. Oh, she misses me. Could we please hang out at the Mall as neutral territory? Meet as though nothing ever happened. Made me think all was forgiven. Famous last dumb thought. Can’t believe I fell for it.

Barnie now – being an old-school vamp and none too hip to the ways of women today – fell for the deception. Barnie wants to woo teenaged girls because he thinks that is the in thing. Whiny, self-absorbed teenaged girls who lack the rudiments of decorum and hygiene. Oh and the horrible din of their high-pitched prattling and the impertinence of their dirty paws. Shudder. Any guy, vampire or other, who’d think the tender flesh was worth enduring all that … well, he can’t be too bright. Poor Barnie.

Whoa. Poor Barnie? Poor me. TJ told these fem-gnats that I booked some vampire named Edward – a sorry vamp poser, if half of his history is to be believed – so now they are after me. So I can help them flay this punk. Like I would hang around some vamp glow worrm. A dumb vamp who lingers around high school seeking the company of teenaged girls. Actively seeking them. You feel me, right?

Dumb vamp is smitten with a drip called Betty. Betty keeps begging Edward to bite her so that she can live with him eternally. Like being a vampire isn’t hard enough. Yeah, let’s live with a teenaged girl forever. Her always expecting a guy to gaze into her eyes. Do nothing. Be nothing else. No sports, no solitary jaunts to the woods. Nada. Lookee me, lover. Lookee me. Now that is Hell.

Shriek, buzz, shriek, buzz … girls surround me. Insistent that I yield up that pathetic excuse of a bloodsucker.

I’m not going to kill TJ. I’m not going to turn her. But I will get her back for this. Her hair is her weakness. I gotta figure out how I can muss her hair real bad …

Furry Pieces for Sale - No Animals Harmed

I received a query about any furry items I have that I would sell. These are the first I found that matched that criteria.

Happy Viewing!

From left to right:

Leopard "tail" from Josie of Josie and the Pussycats doll (Jakks Pacific) $1
Black leather jacket from Lost Angel Colette (Integrity's Fashion Royalty; NuFace) $10.00*
Fur trimmed coat from My Scene Lindsay Lohan original outfit (Mattel) $3
Fashion Corner, Leather in Vogue, outfit with fur scarf (Lucky) $4 NRFB
White fur stole, from Fashion Fever Barbie outfit (Mattel) $1

No PayPal payments accepted for these items unless they are shipped with other items. (U.S. postal money order for payment.)


* Don't know how to "open" this elegant jacket.

More Integrity Playline Information - Source Link and Another Alysa Photo

I was checking for one-sixth scale eyeglasses when I saw these dolls STILL available! Old Joe Infirmary not only updated their website, they also have a few of the newer - probably second / 2.5 face sculpts AND the last face sculpts - available for reasonable prices -- under $20 -- do click that link to see if there are any dolls you would want there.

Here is another photo for all the Alysa fans out there - Royal Heritage [Bride] Alysa! And [Groom] Alejandro - he's cute, too. Sigh. Wipes at eye corner with a tissue. Such a lovely couple!

I think that the bride set at the Keeping Ken article is the second or the first Alysa sculpt while mine is from the 2.5 sculpt.

Integrity Alysas - Two of Her Four Faces

Integrity playline dolls have appeared in recent posts by Frannie of Thrift Store Dolls and by MSJ of MSJ's Doll Pitt. Since this is Hispanic Heritage Month, I simply must share some of my other Hispanic dolls. Let's start with Alysa, an Integrity Toys, fashion doll from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

A fan from the Integrity Toys Janay & Friends Yahoo Group wrote that there were 4 Alysa head sculpts:

First face sculpt (BIG)
Second face sculpt (improved but still biggish)
2.5 face sculpt (slimmer than the second sculpt; probably the one I have)
Third face sculpt ("pinched" look in my opinion; I have MANY of these, LOL)

Below is a comparison photo of the 2.5 and the 3rd Alysa face sculpts.

I just love, love, LOVE the second or 2.5 head sculpt. But I love the titan curls on the third head sculpt doll, too. The dolls shown are Heat Wave Alysa from 2001 and Studio It Alysa from 2005.

Below, are more photos from that lovely, volatile-looking Alysa (2nd or 2.5 face sculpt?): Urban Reflections (far left), purple-haired Color Rave, and Heat Wave.

Don't forget that Therese is working on a Janay database.

Final Summer Sale - Update on Items, Etc.

Fashion Fever Barbie - $15 each OR 5 for $50

Wave A
Kayla, H0651, silver net jacket, pink net skirt
Teresa, H0658, striped knee high socks, red furry vest, denim skirt

Wave B
Kayla, H0662, silver jacket, red tank, gray heather miniskirt

Wave C (This doll ONLY $10)
Kayla, pink flamingo top, pink-tan print skirt but powdery residue on doll face

Wave F
Drew, H0895, red tee w. monkey appliqué, pale blue miniskirt
Kayla, H0892, lilac jacket, orange tee shirt
Kayla, H0893, pink mini jumper, gray-green tank
Teresa, H0897, white tee shirt, mint vest, brown print pants HOLD

Wave N
Barbie, Styled by me Barbie
Wave R
Barbie MT, purple top, blue jeans
Barbie MT, pink plaid jacket, blue jeans
Drew/Skipper PJ, pink strawberry pj
Teresa PJ, black hair, pale complexion HOLD

Wave T
Drew MT, pink-white lacey dress, blonde hair

Wave U
#J1381 pale complexion, black haired Kayla?

Wave V
Barbie, pink mini dress w. painted jewel inset
Drew, apricot fur jacket, black mini skirt

#K3676 Holiday Barbie

Other NRFB Barbie and Friends for $10 EACH

My Scene Delancey Target, 2004
My Scene Chelsea Rebel Style, 2006
My Scene Madison Rebel Style, 2006
My Scene Nolee Rebel Style, 2006
My Scene Nolee Just Chillin', 2003

Birthstone Beauties: May Miss Emerald (Black) 2007
Birthstone Beauties: November Miss Topaz (White) 2007

Barbie as Veronica, 2005

Barbie Diaries Courtney, 2005

Butterfly Art Barbie, 1998
Butterfly Art Teresa, 1998

Other Mattel Dolls – Various Prices

Feelin' Groovy Barbie, 1986. MIB, $35 (Note: box opened but doll & accessories intact) HOLD
Anne Klein Barbie, 1997. NRFB, $35
Limited Edition DC Catwoman, 2003. NRFB, $80
Happy Family New Neighbors Mom and Baby, 2004. NRFB. $150
Walmart Shopping Teresa, 1997. NRFB, $15
I Love Lucy: “Job Switching” Lucy & Ethel, 2008. NRFB, $40

Grab Box of 10 Nude Barbie and/or Friends dolls all in excellent condition, $60.70, shipping via USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box for U.S. addresses included. Includes My Scene Barbies, Fashion Fever, miscellaneous other Mattel fashion dolls.

Mattel Outfits

Rocker Ken’s silver jumpsuit and silver trenchcoat, trench belt, 1 pink-silver sock, 1 pink-silver armband, pair of silver sneakers, $20
Earring Magic Ken’s net tee shirt, lavender leather vest with ring, lavender-gray slacks, and black loafers, $15

Integrity Toys Doll and Outfits

Dark Narcissus Kyori Sato, excellent condition with original dress and shoes and accessories (EXCEPT BAG), $75
Alysa wearing Purple bandana set, green teal dress, OR yellow top and white pants, $15 each
Colette’s black leather jacket, $25 (Query: does it open?)
Lukas’ black leather trench coat with detachable collar, $35

Other Dolls

Grab Box of 10 Non-Mattel Fashion dolls all in excellent condition, $50.70, shipping via USPS Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box for U.S. addresses included. Hannah Montana, Chic Boutique, Integrity Candi, etc.

New Integrity Dynamite Girls at Maddie's Dolls!

Please check this website and/or your favorite dealer for more information.

I must, must, must get back to buying.

As soon as I clear space and get additional funds.

Sigh.

Michael Puts Together the Wishing Well

Mattel Michael of the Young Sweethearts attempts to put together the Wishing Well Park with a little help from his new friends - Integrity TJ, Volks Who's That Girl Kana (aka Kat), Sekiguchi Momoko, Aoshima/Skynet Girls' Mission Mai, Volks Who's That Girl Kana, and Petworks Momoko going clockwise.

Welcome Spring - Opal, Lukas, and Mai at Play

Spring is here - at last!

Horrid, horrible winter here in Philly. Seventy inches of snow. Seventy. Here. In Philly! Shudder.

Ah, but we've been having balmy days recently. Mixis Opal, Fashion Royalty Nu Face Lukas, and Girl's Mission Mai are off to exercise - Opal stretches before a run while Lukas and Mai have dusted off bicycles to ride. Opal wears separates from the Get Real Girl line and sneakers from Playmates' everGirl. Lukas wears Mattel My Scene shorts and M & C Toys' sneakers (not shown here, alas) while Mai wears a Mattel Ken shirt, Kmart's Joe Boxer pants, and Get Real Girl sneakers with her Mattel Cali Girl helmet. The bicycles are by Mattel for the My Scene (Lukas) and the Cali Girl (Mai) lines.

I should have had lights BEFORE the dolls to better capture Opal's face. Sigh. It is a side issue, my photography learning, but I do consider it ;-}

Playline Giselle by Integrity Toys for Pat's Potpourri

Initially, the Janay/Alysa/Jade dolls were Integrity Toys' ethnic contribution to the 1:6 doll world. African American Janay, Asian Jade, and Latina Alysa were to capture the ethnic doll market left "open" by larger toy companies. Then, Integrity Toys extended their playline series to produce a fourth "regular" doll, Caucasian Giselle.

The first Giselles were my least favorite. Her face seemed biggish while her eyes seemed small. At least that was what I found with my first Giselle, the Photo Hunt Giselle whom I sold about two years ago.

However, I came across three exclusive Giselle's created for Pat's Potpourri circa 2004. The dolls were sold separately or as a three-doll set. Viewing the photos, I bought the three-doll set. Now these 3 swimsuit Giselle dolls with 2-toned blond, red or black hair are lovely dolls. They all have vibrant green-yellow eyes, lower hairlines or banged fronts, richly-colored hair, and vivid, warmer make-up. My favorite is the 2-toned blond doll. Amazing how a hairstyle and coloring can make a doll "sing" for a collector.




Want to see more photos? I've found a slow-to-load link to the original, Pat's Potpourri advertisement for these dolls. Here is that web page which lists the dolls by name along with their original prices. If you click on the links by doll name, you might be able to see close up photos of the dolls' faces. (Archival links sometimes work; sometimes they do not.)

Happy viewing!

Integrity 2010 Lines Unveiled - Link

Doll collector and photographer Shuga-Shug has photos and posts about the Integrity Toys 2010 line.

Click here

Love Staying Power Darius Reid - he has a warm brown complexion, attractive dark suit, and an antique looking leather bag that seems to have been shrunk to 1:6 scale. Fire Within Jordan looks great, too. Real leather dress gloves. Private Goddess Natalia Fatale is another stunner, only I have the 2008 Natalia so - pre-purchase downsizing in place ;-D - I won't try for her.

I.T.B.E. Luscious and Romantic look gorgeous as well. Dynamite Girls Sooki and Reese are on my wish list. Sooki has curly blonde hair while Reese seems to have a new face mold.

Sigh. Possible new Mixis, new Integrity, and as always, new Mattel dolls.

Links for Integrity Toys' Janay, Alysa, and Playline Dolls

While searching links for the Integrity Male Complexion post, I found these related sites. I am excited to share them with fellow Integrity playline collectors. The Master Collector link might have been provided before. But the others, I found by checking no longer available sites in the Internet Wayback Machine. Note: all sites do not have the photos, but the text there could be useful for dates - although confirmation from other collectors helps since, sometimes, dolls shown may NOT have been produced for the market. (I'm thinking of Shalaly)

Master Collector
2002 Integrity Dolls
Beautiful doll photos with wave titles


Dolls, Dreams, and Cuddy Things (Suzanne)
2002 Dolls
Reference for doll names and year; I could not open the photos belonging to the links

2003 Dolls
Aha! Giselle and Justin Wedding Set and Not-Produced Shalaly listed

2004 Dolls
Designer kits with unpainted Janay and friends heads - kitbashers dream!


Louise Fritsch's Candi Corner
Alysa and Jade
Reference for dolls and some photos show


Happy reading! Oh and don't forget that Therese of Dolls of Color is working on a Janay database. If you have Janay or other Integrity Barbie-scaled photos, links, etc. please share. Thanks!

Shades of Black, Part Three: Integrity Male Complexions

Meet Tariq (left) and Jordan (right), Integrity playine dolls. These are the only versions of these doll characters that I have so I cannot show the color range of their complexions from my collection.

However, by grace of the wonderful Internet Wayback Machine, I found a site showing breathtaking photos of Tariq taken by a doll dealer. Behold, Tariq in various shades of brown from light reddish brown to dark brown: the wave titles are African Legends, Ancient Legends, Fashion Insider, and Icons. (Note: you can see the other Integrity Janay and friends available in 2004 here as well.)

I *think* that there was some complexion variation for Jordan as well, but Jordan is a much trickier character. Why? I think that he was taken/removed/transferred? from the Integrity playline to become Mikelman's Dominic doll. BUT that's a story for another post.

Integrity Playline Characters - Janay and Friends

Here is a list of the Integrity playline dolls that included Janay, Jade, Alysa and their friends:

The Women

• Janay
  
• Alysa
  
• Jade
  
• Giselle
  
• Nakia, African Legends only
  
• Adora, Ancient Legends only
  
• Malika, Embassy Ball only (My Favorite Dolls exclusive)
  
• Aria, Icon Club only (Dolls, Dreams, and Cuddly Things and Katy's Kollectibles exclusive)
  
• Sooki, Icon Club only, Dolls (Dreams, and Cuddly Things and Katy's Kollectibles exclusive)
  

The Men

• Jordan
  
• Keith
  
• Alejandro
  
• Tariq
  
• Justin, Giselle Wedding set only
  

Top Ten DAFs of 2009: Heartbreaker T.J. at 1

Manufacturer: Integrity
Series: Dynamite Girls
Character Name: Heartbreaker T.J.
Box Year, if Noted: 2009

Why is T.J. on the Top Ten list?

Well, she's pretty and pose-able. I like her side-glancing eyes -- having attractive side-glancing is no small feat. Her overall coloring pleases - whoo hoo for red pepper lips instead of pink or tomato red. The red pepper color looks more sophisticated. And add a plus for her pouty-shaped mouth ... it gives her a stubborn, aloof air.




Why is T.J. first on the Top Ten list?



Let's see, Mai has the best articulation; Luchia has the most glamour. How did T.J. shoot ahead to Number One? The two winning factors are the Pout and the Connection.

The Pout is easy: it gives T.J. "attitude." "Attitude" as in hands on her hips and taking a stand and NOT backing down. The fight is on. Mai has a little attitude, too, but she's younger. Think teenager flouncing out a petulant "whatever." Luchia has Attitude Galore, but her attitude comes from confidence, maturity, and a little ennui. Luchia has world-weary captured. Arched eyebrow and curled lip ... how bored she is. T.J. has that I'm-not-getting-my-way-and-somebody's-gonna-pay look.

What cinched T.J.'s place though is the Connection. Not T.J. being brown-skinned or dark-eyed or dark-haired. But T.J. having small breasts. Luchia and Mai are both bosomy. T.J., on the other hand, revives the teenaged me. Back when I was "tall, thin, with not too much up there" as one stranger informed me many years ago. Like I needed him to tell me that. Think narrowed eyes rolling. Head shake. Back to the present. So that feature sets T.J. apart from the other top three. Did anyone see that coming?

Both Integrity Toys dolls, Fashion Royalty W Club 2008 Bewitching Hour Luchia and Dynamite Girls Heartbreaker T.J. can be found on eBay and possibly in online shops. They can be in stock one day and gone the next so my suggestion would be for interested buyers to do a Google or a Bing search for the dolls to have the most current information.

For those interested in reading other Top Ten Dolls/Action Figures/Toys, see the post initiator, Shaun Wong's blog for incredible photography and interesting reviews. Other doll and action figure collectors participating in the Top 10 of 2009 Reviews include:

Corsetkitten
Mick
Smidge Girl

Top Ten DAFs of 2009: Bewitching Hour Luchia at 2

Manufacturer: Integrity
Series: Fashion Royalty, W Club 2008
Character Name: Bewitching Hour Luchia
Box Year, if Noted: 2008

Why is Luchia on the Top Ten list?

1. She is gorgeous.

2. She has attitude.

3. She reminds me of a blond Emma Peel.

4. She has better articulation than I am accustomed to (think basic Barbies).

When I showed a relative a photo of Bewitching Hour Luchia, I was told that I would not buy that doll because that doll was the sort that men buy. Cocked my head to the side and looked at the doll again. Bouffant blond hair, [her] flesh-colored mini dress, black slatted knee high boots ... I could almost understand why my relative had that thought. In some circles, Luchia might look like a high priced um call girl. Hmmm .... Well. Okay, she still reminds me of Emma Peel of the Avengers, only Luchia's back story came from an American Anglophile. She should be in action movies where she should know umpteen martial arts AND fencing and spy stuff.


Why is Luchia second on the Top Ten list?

The doll that placed first has two advantages over Luchia.

Help Dolls of Color Create Janay Database

Dolls of Color blogger Therese seeks photos and information about Integrity's playline Janay doll for a Janay database. Yay Therese!

While I have several Janay and friends dolls, my Janay dolls all have the last Janay head mold stamped ©Integrity 2001. I recall reading doll descriptions on the Dolls, Dreams, and Cuddly Things web site several years ago that noted whether certain Janay, Alysa, and Jade dolls had the old, big heads or the newer, smaller heads. I also recall seeing web sites showing two Janay head molds different from the head mold I have. Check the Janay shown at this link; note the size of her head and her features. This is an early Janay. Perhaps some PhillyCollector readers collect or used to collect the Janay playline. If you do or did, and if you would like to contribute to this database, please check Therese's blog for contact information.

Here's to a Janay and friends database in 2010.

Dolls shown in the photo are the Dealer version of Fashion Insider Janay, Color Rave Alysa (2nd Alysa head mold), and Fashion Fling Alysa (3rd Alysa head mold).

Integrity Janay Links to Click

Integrity Janay fans, I found some places to discuss and to view these dolls.

First, there is a Janay focused Yahoo Group. You will need to join the Group to view the photos and to read the messages. There are 22 photo albums in the Group as well as links to MORE Janay and friends photo albums outside the Group. No cost to join.

Second, a 2007 post about saving Janay.

Next, two links to beautiful photo albums by a collector:

Janay and Friends

Janay Tribute

Reference links

MC ToyFair 2002

MC ToyFair 2003

MC ToyFair 2004

ASM ToyFair 2004

ASM ToyFair 2005

ASM ToyFair 2006

Please note: Toy Fair items may not have ever appeared, especially the 2005 and 2006 lines, OR they might emerge under a different line title than what they are shown with in the Toy Fair photos.